Could Nightline move to 10 PM to battle Leno?

According to James Poniewozik, this isn't a done deal or even close to being a done deal, but it is certainly one of the moves that ABC is thinking about: Nightline might move to 10 PM from it's current 11:35 slot.

It would certainly be a lot cheaper than running dramas (which are usually the scripted shows the networks have at 10PM), and it could signal a change in the way that networks schedule their shows. This would also mean (in all likelihood) that Jimmy Kimmel Live would move into the 11:35 slot.

I don't know if this is a real possibility or not. It seems to be that ABC might want to keep it at 11:35. After all, there have been many times when the show has beaten The Late Show with David Letterman and times when it has battled The Tonight Show in the ratings.

It's real alternative programming for people who don't want to watch the late-night comics and seems to be doing pretty well. Then again, as a commenter says on Poniewozik's post, ABC's 10PM slot has already seen a lot of news shows like 20/20, Primetime, and Barbara Walters specials, so maybe this wouldn't be such a stretch at all.

This will probably happen in the future. ABC has struggled at 10PM for years. If they can't capitalize with Leno at 10PM and Dancing with the Stars, meaning ABC cancels 3 of their 4 weekday shows then they should test Nightline out at 10PM. Then ABC could create another late night talk show to air after Jimmy. They save money with an earlier Nightline and then have another late night show to make money.